Frozen or chilled confectionery products

ABSTRACT

Frozen or chilled confectionery products, in particular ice-creams, with a unique taste performance comprising a fat-continuous or bicontinuous or duplex fat-emulsion comprising 5-50 wt % fat, 5-60 wt % water, 5-80 wt % thickener, sweetener and/or humectant, the emulsion being present as a coating layer, a barrier layer or as an inclusion.

This is a 371 National Stage application of PCT/EP96/02471, filed Jun. 5, 1996 and claims the benefit thereof.

Frozen and chilled confectionery products, such as ice-creams, ice-pralines, chilled custard, tarts, desserts etc. are known for quite some time. It is also known to apply these products, provided with a coating layer (e.g. a chocolate-coating on ice-creams), or with a separate product-layer (e.g. layered ice-creams, wherein the composition of the different layers is different), or with a barrier-layer (e.g. ice-creams in waffles or in cones are provided with a barrier layer), or with inclusions (cf e.g. our copending Eur. Pat. Applic. 94203673.2).

Although many of above products have a good taste and a good performance, it was also noticed that still a rather limited range in taste, shape and texture performance was possible, using prior art techniques. Therefore we performed a study in order to find out, whether we could extend the existing range of products and/or whether we could find novel products with a unique taste-performance in this area.

Above study resulted in the finding of novel and unique products. Our invention concerns the use of known and novel fat-emulsions for a completely different purpose.

From EP 345.075 gelled duplex emulsions are known, that comprise 0.1-40% of a gelled external continuous waterphase; an oil or fat phase, dispersed in the external aqueous phase, while an aqueous phase, containing an osmotic pressure component is present, dispersed in the oil or fat phase. Gelling agents that can be used are gelatin, meat, egg and fish proteins, polysaccharides and inorganic materials such as clays.

The osmotic pressure component can be selected from sodium chloride, and a number of sugars, including glucose, sucrose and malto-dextrins.

The emulsion can be applied in foods such as creams. Nothing is disclosed about the use of these emulsions as coating layer, or as barrier layer, or as inclusion in frozen or chilled confectionery products.

From EP 547658 and WO 95/00830 (appl.nr) fat-emulsions are known that comprise a continuous fat-phase, representing 5-50 wt. % of the emulsion and a water-phase, comprising water and another component, which other component is mainly selected from thickeners, sweeteners and humectants, while also acidity regulators, bulking agents, emulsifiers, flavours, colorants and preservatives can be present.

The emulsions can be used for confectionery purposes in the form of encapsulated filling materials or for spreads. The properties of encapsulated fillings were good at temperatures of 10-20° C.

However nothing is mentioned about a use of these emulsions in frozen or chilled confectionery products for the purposes we claim. We found unexpectedly that these emulsions have properties, which make them very suitable for applications at low temperatures. So we found, that application of those emulsions in frozen confectionery products, such as ice-creams led to products with a unique and novel taste performance. This is the more unexpected, realising that ice-cream itself is a water-continuous fat-emulsion, the fact that the combination of our fat-continuous, bicontinuous or duplex fat-emulsions, with a water continuous fat-emulsion at low (chilled: so at about 5-6° C.) or at very low (frozen: so at about -18 to -20° C.) temperatures would lead to a compatible system of fat-emulsions with an unique taste performance was unexpected.

Therefore our invention concerns frozen or chilled confectionery products, containing at least a fat-composition, wherein the confectionery products are provided with an amount of a fat-continuous, or bicontinuous or duplex fat-emulsion, which fat-emulsion comprises:

5-50 wt. %, preferably 15-40 wt. %, most preferably 20-30 wt. % fat

5-60 wt. %, preferably 10-40 wt. %, most preferably 15-30 wt. % water

5-80 wt. %, preferably 20-70 wt. %, most preferably 40-65 wt. % of a thickener, and/or sweetener and/or humectant, while simultaneously effective small amount of acidity regulator(s), bulking agent(s), emulsifier(s), flavour(s), colorant(s) and/or preservative(s) can be present, which fat-emulsion is present in and/or on the confectionery products:

as, coating layer and/or

as, product layer in a multi-layered product and/or

as, barrier layer and/or

as, inclusion, which inclusion can be encapsulated in a food-acceptable encapsulation.

Optimal results are obtained when the fat-emulsion has a specific Stevens-hardness-profile. Stevens hardness can be measured, using a Stevens Texture Analyzer with a probe of 45°, a penetration rate of 0.5 mm/sec. and a penetration depth of 2 mm.

Before measuring the Stevens hardness (C) the emulsion is kept at measurement temperatures for 24 hours.

We found that optimal results were obtained, when the ratio between Stevens hardness at -20° C. to Stevens hardness at ##EQU1## is less than 20, preferably less than 10, most preferably less than 5.

It was further found that very unique taste properties were achieved, when the fat-emulsion contains such an amount of (thickener+sweetener) that the weight-ratio ##EQU2## in the emulsion is more than 1.5, preferably 2-9.

Although our invention is not limited in the type of fat that can be applied for the preparation of our emulsions, we prefer to use fats selected from the group, consisting of: cocoa butter, illipe, shea, palm, sal, soybean, cottonseed, palmkernel, coconut, rapeseed and sunflower oil, or fractions, or blends thereof.

The fats preferably display an NMR-SFI profile (NMR-pulse, stab) of N₅ =10-95; N₂₀ =10-90; N₃₅ <5. The most suitable fats display a ratio between N₂₅ (stab): N₂₅ (unstab)>1.5, preferably >3, wherein N₂₅ is the solid fat index (NMR-pulse) at 25° C.

The N-values of the fats are measured according to a standard pulse, NMR-technique. The N-values of the fats are measured both without and after stabilization. Unstabilized means that the N-value is measured after the following regime: melt at 80° C.; 30 minutes at 60° C.; 1 hour at 0° C.; 30 minutes at measurement temperature 25° C. Stabilized fats were measured after: melt at 80° C.; 15 minutes at 60° C.; 60 minutes at 0° C.; 16 hours at 26° C.; 24 hours at 20° C.; 60 minutes at 0° C.; 60 minutes at measurement temperature 25° C. (or other measurement temperature).

The thickeners, that can be applied are selected from the group consisting of:

proteins, such as: gelatin, hydrolysed gelatin, casein, caseinates, vegetable proteins and denatured proteins

carbohydrates, such as: potato starch, corn starch, maize starch, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, the different carrageenan gums, pectin, agar, the maltodextrins, polydextrose, hydrolyzed starches and modified starches.

Sweeteners are another group of important ingredients that provide the possibility of regulating the caloric intake of the emulsions. Suitable sweeteners are sucrose, lactose, maltose, galactose, fructose, glucose, but also high-intensity sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, acesulfame-K, sucralose or alitame can be used. The preferred amount of sweeteners is 0.005-60 wt. %, while this amount is only 0.005-10 wt. % when a high-intensity sweetener is used.

The use of a humectant also provides the possibility of regulating the caloric intake and the other properties of the filling composition. Very suitable humectants are glycerol and hygroscopic, food-grade, inorganic or organic salts. The humectants are preferably present in amounts of 0-70 wt. % in particular 15-40 wt. %, of the remainder.

Other components that can be present in the emulsions are flavours, colourants and preservatives. The preservatives are preferably present in amounts of 0.005-4 wt. % and are suitably selected from sorbate salts, benzoate salts, ascorbic acid, urea or its derivatives.

The above-mentioned components are used in such amounts, within the ranges mentioned above, that a filling composition is obtained that is microbiologically and structurally stable at ambient temperature for at least 4 weeks, perferably for more than 12 weeks.

Emulsifiers can also be present in the compositions. These emulsifiers can be any known emulsifier, but are suitably chosen from the monoglycerides, such as hymonos (Quest International), lecithins, DATA esters (=diacetyl tartaric acid esters), lactodans (=glycerol lactic esters) or mixtures thereof. The amount of emulsifier is 0.1-2 wt. %, preferably 0.2-1.5 wt. %.

The fat-emulsions can also be applied in aerated form. Suitable overruns for this purpose range from 1-35%.

The fat emulsions can be made by the techniques disclosed in our earlier European patent applications EP 547 658 and PCT/EP95/00830.

Therefore these techniques are considered to be part of this specification by way of reference. In particular the process according to PCT/EP95/00830 leads to products with an excellent taste performance.

Our frozen or chilled confectionery products are made by a process, comprising the steps of:

making of a fat-continuous or bicontinuous fat-emulsion with the composition, as mentioned earlier, using a votator

if necessary liquifying the emulsion by heating of the emulsion

providing a frozen or chilled confectionery product with:

(i) a coating layer and/or

(ii) a barrier layer and/or

(iii) an inclusion made from the emulsion

This process results in fat-continuous or bicontinuous fat-emulsions, due to the use of the votator. If duplex-emulsions are required (definitions of the different emulsion-types can be found on p.4, l. 9-12 of EP 547.658), the process to be carried out is as follows:

making a duplex emulsion with the compositions as mentioned earlier, by making a fat-continuous or water-continuous fat emulsion, followed by dispersion of the emulsion formed in the non-continuous component of the emulsion

if necessary liquifying of the emulsion formed by heating

providing a frozen or chilled confectionery product with

(i) a coating layer and/or

(ii) a barrier layer and/or

(iii) an inclusion, made from the emulsion.

However, other process-routes are possible as well. E.g it is possible to apply extrusion or enrobing techniques well known in the ice-cream area. Moreover, the application of cutting-techniques of frozen emulsions is possible as well.

Our invention further relates to the use of a fat-continuous or bi-continuous or duplex fat emulsion in frozen or chilled confectionery products: wherein an emulsion with the composition as mentioned earlier, is used in a frozen or chilled confectionery products as

(i) coating layer and/or

(ii) barrier layer and/or

(iii) inclusion in order to provide the frozen or chilled product with an unique combination of taste-performance, shape and texture.

Ice-creams (as the most typical example of frozen confectionery products), and chilled confectionery products, provided with a barrier, filling or coating, comprising the fat-emulsions disclosed above are also part of the invention.

    ______________________________________     Preparation of fat-emulsions     ______________________________________     I.1       The following recipe was applied:     ______________________________________               Ingredient       wt %     ______________________________________               fat A            24.2               emulsifier (=monoglyceride)                                0.8               flavour          0.3               sweetose (=glucose syrup:                                69.7               18% water)               K-sorbate        0.1               lactic acid      0.05               colourant        0.05               water            up to 100%               fat A, consisted of 70% palm oil mid + 30%               palm oil olein     ______________________________________     I.2       A premix was made from the aqueous and fat               phases at 65° C. The premix was pumped at 50               g/min through two A-units. The conditions               applied were as follows:     ______________________________________                             A.sub.1 A.sub.2     ______________________________________               rotator speed (rpm)                             1300    1300               exit temp.    17° C.                                     12° C.     ______________________________________               This product is fat-emulsion I. Stevens-               hardness-ratio .sup.C-20 /.sub.C+20 = 8.7.     ______________________________________     II.1      Another fat-emulsion was made using the               following recipe:     ______________________________________               Ingredient       wt %     ______________________________________               fat B            19.4               emulsifier (Myverol.sup.R)                                0.6               flavour          0.3               High fructose corn syrup                                38.7               (syrup: 19% water)               Litesse-2 ® (=polydextrose)                                34.0               K-sorbate        0.1               citric acid      0.04               colourant        0.3               water            up to 100%               fat B, consisted of 70% palm oil mid + 30%               palm oil olein     ______________________________________     II.2      A premix was made at 65° C. the throuh-put               was 3.9 kg/hr. Two A-units were applied,               using the following conditions:     ______________________________________                             A.sub.1 A.sub.2     ______________________________________               rotator speed (rpm)                             1600    1200               exit temp.    18.9    15.1     ______________________________________               The product is fat-emulsion II.               Stevens-hardness ratio .sup.C-20 /.sub.C+20 = 5.3.     III       Preparation of coated ice-creams     III.1     Emulsion I was liquified by careful warming               up to 35-40° C. Ice-creams were dipped into               the liquid emulsions. After drying the               products were stored at -18° C.     III.2     A comparison was made with a commercial               coating-layer based on coconut fat. (=CN)               The following data were obtained:     ______________________________________                         drip-time                                  dry-time               Sample    (sec)    (sec)     ______________________________________               CN        9        53               emulsion -I                         5        <60     ______________________________________     III.3     So drip-time and dry-time are similar to               those of a commercial product. However the               taste was completely different. The use of               our fat-emulsion led to products, having a               unique taste and flavour profile     IV        Ice-pralines     IV.1      A coating was made using the following               recipe:     ______________________________________               Ingredient       wt %     ______________________________________               cacao-powder N11N                                14               SMP              7               fat              31               fine sugar       48               lecithine        0.4     ______________________________________               The fat was a 74:26 mix of a palm-mid               fraction and a mid fraction of               interesterified palm oil. It contained 18%               SSO-triglycerides.               The coating was melted at 40° C. A mold was               filled on a vibrating table (to               avoid incorporation of air). The               mold was hardened for 15 min. at               13° C.     IV.2      Emulsion I was liquified and the molded               products obtained in IV.1 were filled with               the liquid emulsion. The products were               backed off with the coating and solidified               at 13°0 C. during 30 min. In order to be able               to remove the product from the mold the               products were cooled to 7° C. for 5 min.     IV.3      The products were dispersed in ice-cream and               resulted in a composite-product with               excellent taste performance at about -10° C.     V         Layered ice-creams               Emulsion I and ice-creams were cut, so that               layers of each were obtained having the               dimension of 2 × 4 × 0.5 cm. A layer of emulsion               was sandwiched between two layers of ice-               cream. The sandwich was frozen to -18° C. and               enrobed with a coconut oil based coating               with a temperature of 30° C. The coconut               based coating had the following composition:     ______________________________________               Ingredient       wt %     ______________________________________               coconut oil      59.2               sugar            25.8               cacao powder NIIN                                13.0               SMP              1.7               lecithins        0.3     ______________________________________               The products obtained displayed a unique               taste-performance.     ______________________________________ 

We claim:
 1. A frozen or chilled confectionery product, containing at least a fat-composition, wherein the confectionery products are provided with an amount of a fat-continuous, or bicontinuous or duplex fat-emulsion, said fat-emulsion displaying a stevens hardness-profile (measured after 24 hours at the temperatures indicated) such that (C-20° C.)/(C+20° C.) is less than 20, said emulsion comprising:5-50 wt. % fat 5-60 wt. % water 5-80 wt. % of a member selected from the group consisting of a thickener, sweetener and humectant; optionally with an effective small amount of one or more components selected from the group consisting of acidity regulator, bulking agent, emulsifier, flavour, colorant and preservative; said fat-emulsion being present as at least one part of the confectionery product selected from the group consisting of:a coating layer; a product layer in a multi-layered product; a barrier layer and an inclusion, said inclusion being optionally encapsulated in a food-acceptable encapsulation.
 2. A frozen or chilled confectionery product, according to claim 1, wherein the fat-emulsion displays a stevens hardness-profile (measured after 24 hours at the temperatures indicated), such that C-20° C./C+20° C. is <10.
 3. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 2 wherein the C-20° C./C+20° C. is <5.
 4. A frozen or chilled confectionery product, according to claim 1, wherein the fat-emulsion contains such an amount of (thickener+sweetener) that the weight-ratio thickener+sweetener/water in the emulsion is more than 1.5.
 5. A frozen or confectioner product according to claim 4 wherein the weight ratio thickener+sweetener/water is in the range of 2-9.
 6. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 1 wherein the fat-emulsion comprises a fat selected from the group consisting of: cocoa butter, illipe, shea, palm, sal, soybean, cottonseed, palmkernel, coconut, rapeseed and sunflower oil, fractions, and blends thereof.
 7. A frozen chilled confectionery product according to claim 6, wherein the fat displays a ratio between N₂₅ (stab): N₂₅ (unstab)>1. 5, wherein N₂₅ is the solid fat index (NMR-pulse) at 25° C.
 8. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 7 wherein the fat displays a ratio between N₂₅ (stab): N₂₅ (unstab) of >3.
 9. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 1, wherein the fat-emulsion comprises a thickener selected from the group consisting of:gelatin, hydrolysed gelatin, casein, caseinates, vegetable proteins, denatured proteins potato starch, corn starch, maize starch, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, pectin, agar, carrageenan gum, polydextrose, maltodextrins, hydrolysed starch and modified starch.
 10. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 1, wherein the fat-emulsion comprises a sweetener selected from the group consisting of maltose, galactose, lactose, sucrose, fructose, glucose and high intensity sweeteners.
 11. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 1, wherein the fat-emulsion is aerated.
 12. A frozen confectionery product according to claim 1, wherein the product is ice-cream.
 13. Process for the preparation of frozen or chilled confectionery products, comprising the steps of:making a duplex emulsion comprising 5-50 wt % fat; 5-60 wt % water; and 5-80 wt % of at least one member of the group consisting of a thickener, a sweetener and a humectant, in claim 1, by making a fat-continuous or water-continuous fat emulsion, followed by dispersion of the emulsion formed in the non-continuous component of the emulsion; optionally liquifying the emulsion thus formed by heating; and providing a frozen or chilled confectionery product with at least one part selected from the group consisting ofa coating layer, a barrier layer and an inclusion, made from the emulsion.
 14. Chilled confectionery products, provided with a filling, barrier or coating comprising a fat-emulsion as described in claim
 1. 15. A frozen or chilled confectionery product according to claim 1 wherein the fat emulsion comprises 15-40 wt % fat; 10-40 wt % water; and 20-70 wt % of said member.
 16. Process for the preparation of frozen or chilled confectionery products, comprising the steps of:making a fat-continuous or bicontinuous fat-emulsion comprising 5-50 wt % fat; 5-60 wt % water; and 5-80 wt % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a thickener, a sweetener and a humectant, using a votator; optionally liquifying the emulsion by heating of the emulsion; and providing a frozen or chilled confectionery product with at least one part selected from the group consisting ofa coating layer, a barrier layer and an inclusion, made from the emulsion.
 17. The method which comprises providing a frozen or chilled confectionery product with at least one part selected from the group consisting of a coating layer, a barrier layer and an inclusion comprising a fat-continuous or bicontinuous fat emulsion comprising 5-50 wt % fat; 5-60 wt % water; and 5-80 wt % of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a thickener, a sweetener and a humectant, said emulsion providing said product with a combination of taste-performance, shape and texture. 